Tour du Grand Saint-Bernard

From the heart of the last village in Switzerland when ascending the St. Bernard valley, we take the old road leading to the Barrage des Toules (Dam). Just above the Alpage de La Lettaz (mountain dairy farm), we follow the lake and star tour ascent towards the Alpage de La Pierre mountain dairy farm. The climb becomes steeper and links up with the Combe de Drône followed by the Col des Chevaux. An excellent traverse leads us to the Grand Saint Bernard Hospice at 2472m.

The start of our hike takes us in the direction of Italy. We walk past the Alpage de Baus (mountain dairy farm) and the descent ends with a traverse and small climb to the Col Saint-Rhémy (Pass). We continue through extremely wild countryside via the Col des Ceingles (Pass) before reaching the Frassati Refuge 300 metres further down.

The first ascent takes us to the Col Malatra (Pass) at an altitude of more than 2900m, with a breathtaking panorama over the hanging glaciers of the Mont-Blanc mountain range. We reach the Italian side of the Val Ferret and head for Bonatti or Lavachey for the night.

We link up with the Tour du Mont-Blanc path for this leg and leave Italy, heading back to Switzerland and a somewhat less alpine landscape, via the Grand Col Ferret at 2453m. The first part of the descent down the pass takes us to the Alpage de La Peule (mountain dairy farm) where we can either spend the night or continue to Ferret/La Fouly.

The walk the following morning takes us to the Col du Basset (Pass) … with a height difference of nearly 1200m! Sightings of chamois deer, ibex and marmots instantly make us forget the effort and we gaze at the surrounding panorama in wonderment … a great descent in the heart of La Combe de L’A Nature Reserve takes us back to Liddes Village.

The ascent that takes us from Liddes to the Cabane de Mille at 2450m is short but tough … this is a hut located on the pass between the Val de Bagnes and the Saint-Bernard valleys, at the foot of the Petit Combin, opposite the most beautiful alpine mountain ranges imaginable – a breathtaking panorama that will soon make you forget the effort!

Are you brave and ambitious enough to climb the Mont Rogneux at 3082m? If you don’t wish to climb to the top, take the path that leads in the direction of Bourg-Saint-Pierre through the Entremont mountain dairy farms. From the Alpage de Boveire (mountain dairy farm), we head down through the forest to the village where our trek will end.